AMMAN,
“The morale among people we have spoken to is higher than we expected,” said a Christian in contact with the church in
One man said that at the beginning of the conflict, everyone in the congregation was feeling drained and worn down with fear, but as they felt God speaking to them, telling them to be encouragers for others, their strength returned, and they now feel stronger than they did before the war started.
Several Christians have had their houses damaged by bombs, and one woman has had to be treated for shrapnel injuries. But the conflict has also brought a sense of solidarity and support among the small Christian communities: people are ready to help in any way they can, make temporary house repairs, provide what supplies they can.
A Christian woman recovering from a recent operation for cancer is “afraid at times” but looking forward to the day when she can welcome foreign visitors into her home again. Her niece said that when the bombing starts, they get together and sing and pray until it subsides.
One priest’s wife was crying on the phone: she is worried for her eldest daughter who becomes terrified when the planes are heard. But they support each other in the family and try to keep active in seeing to the needs of the church members.
“This conflict has forced us to live for each other and focus on helping each other get through these times of great danger. But we trust in God’s support, His protection and strength,” one Iraqi Christian said.
The Christians are also aware of the sufferings of their Muslim neighbors and try to offer help. Their witness and compassion will have a far-reaching impact upon their communities, said one Christian leader.
For the many unofficial churches in
However, it would not take much for the authorities to turn on the members of the underground churches, accusing them of being in league with the West. Even the traditional Christian communities run the risk of becoming targets of retaliation for Muslim extremists, and the longer the war continues, the more the Christians in Iraq are vulnerable.
